Pool of money for salaries has dropped from $1.8 million to $1.645 million since Rick Neuheisel became coach.

Salaries for UCLA football assistant coaches have dropped since Rick Neuheisel was hired as coach.

Bruins coaches will receive a total of $1.685 million in base pay this season, according to information obtained by The Times through a public records request. After Neuheisel was hired in 2008, Athletic Director Dan Guerrero increased the pool of money for assistant coaches from $1.625 million to $1.8 million.

Coordinators Mike Johnson and Joe Tresey will be paid $250,000. The low end is defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield, who will receive $110,000.

The assistant coach pay does not include the $500,000 buyout paid to offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who was fired in January and hired by Utah.

Neuheisel is guaranteed $1.25 million this season, bringing the salary total for coaches to $2.935 million.Chip Kelly

Quarterback roulette

Quarterback Kevin Prince was a near shoo-in to win the job a third consecutive season and has been exclusively with the first team since training camp began, but concerns about his passing game efficiency have narrowed the gap between him and Richard Brehaut.

Neither has trumped the other as a dual-threat quarterback, something absolutely necessary in the "pistol" offense. Prince has been stronger in the running game and Brehaut more consistent in the passing game. Brehaut, though, has played almost entirely against the second-team defense.

Both continue to make mistakes that frazzle Neuheisel.

In the meeting room "the easy things, they have all the right answers when I'm asking them on the board," Neuheisel said.

On the field is another story.

"The professor has to take responsibility for that," Neuheisel said. "I have to make sure they understand what they are doing."

Neuheisel said he will select a starter when "I know," though presumably it will be before 2:29 p.m. CDT on Sept. 3. UCLA and Houston are scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m.

Cornerback concerns

Tresey is confident that cornerback Aaron Hester will be able to recover from a hamstring injury suffered in Saturday's scrimmage before the Bruins play Houston.

Still, it exposes a depth issue at that position. Jamie Graham is out at least a month after knee surgery. Anthony Jefferson is out until at least October after back surgery. That leaves Andrew Abbott as the only cornerback on the roster with game experience behind Hester and Sheldon Price.